Using a few and few; a little and little
A few, few, little, and a little; those are quantifiers
meaning ‘some’. We use them to mean ‘not as much as may be expected or wished
for’. A few and a little give positive ideas, while few and little give a
negative ideas.
They have their own rules in using in a sentence. Look at
these diagrams:
Example:
1.
Sulhan has been here only a week, but he has
already made a few friends.
(positive idea: he has made some friends.)
2.
I am very pleased. I have been able to save a little money this month. (positve
idea: I have saved money instead of spending all of it.)
3.
I feel sorry for him. He has very few friends. (negative idea: she does
not have many friends; she has almost no friends.)
4.
I have very little
money. I don’t even have enough money to buy food for dinner. (negative idea:
I do not have much money; I have almost no money.)
*very (+ few/little)
makes the negaive ideas stronger, the number/amount smaller.
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